Next week we will study the portion of Shemini. This commentary is the last on Tzav. I focused mostly on the aspect of idol worshipping because we are all slaves to different aspects of it. Nevertheless, I want you to know that Tzav has many secrets and teachings, so if you are asked what Tzav is about, don’t just jump to say ‘idol worshiping’. Read the entire portion from the Torah and from the Zohar. It has only 193 paragraphs.

In a few days we’ll celebrate Purim and read the scroll of Esther. The story took place around 360 BC just before the building of the second Holy Temple and the return of the children of Israel to the Holy Land.
Haman in the story represents the other side that always wants to take the light from us.

Haman was from the seed of Amalek, as he was a descendant of the King of Amalek.
Esther 3:1 “Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite”,
1 Samuel 15:8 “Agag the king of the Amalekites”

The way we overcome Haman is a very important study but I will focus on a few points that connect us to the portion of Tzav and idol worshiping.
Haman was powerful and was supported by the king. Everyone bowed down before him except Mordechai.
Esther 3:2
“וְכָל-עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר-בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לְהָמָן–כִּי-כֵן, צִוָּה-לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ; וּמָרְדֳּכַי–לֹא יִכְרַע, וְלֹא יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה”
“And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.”

Haman had the money and honor of the king and the people, but he didn’t have the Light that Mordechi had. For that reason he went to the king with a plan to destroy the Jews and remove them from the kingdom.
Esther 5:9
“אִם-עַל-הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב, יִכָּתֵב לְאַבְּדָם; וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים כִּכַּר-כֶּסֶף, אֶשְׁקוֹל עַל-יְדֵי עֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה, לְהָבִיא, אֶל-גִּנְזֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ.”
“If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.””
Haman offered money and the king gave him his ring to authorize the execution of the plan.

Haman had spiritual powers because he was from the seed of Amalek. He brought judgment on the people when he used the name of God in reverse order.
Esther 5:13
“”But this is all worth nothing” ”
But Esther knew the system and Haman’s plan on the spiritual level. She corrected the judgment by inviting the King and Haman to a feast using the proper name of God.

Esther 5:4
“ וַתֹּאמֶר אֶסְתֵּר, אִם-עַל-הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב–יָבוֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהָמָן הַיּוֹם, אֶל-הַמִּשְׁתֶּה אֲשֶׁר-עָשִׂיתִי לוֹ”
“And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.””

At this point we go back to the Garden of Eden to find the seed of Haman. The Zohar reveals to us that Haman is mentioned in Genesis 3:11
“He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?””

The letters that form the word Haman, appears in the verse next to the word ‘tree’. The Snake fed Eve and Adam from the forbidden tree and made them lose immortality. In the story of Esther, she invites the king and Haman to a feast where Haman falls down before her.

In the first sin Eve and Adam didn’t follow the words of God and lost life. They caused the reincarnation and correction process that we will go through until the Final Redemption. At that time the seed of Amalek will be removed from the face of the earth and the Tree of Life will be restored forever.

This Shabbat is called Shabbat Zachor. In addition to the reading of the Portion of Tzav, we add three verses from Deuteronomy 25:17-19.

“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God.
Therefore when YHVH, your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that YHVH your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget. “

This reading gives us power to control and remove negative thoughts and uncertainty from our minds and build a better connection to YHVH.
Haman’s idol worshiping of power and money in this world didn’t help him against the Light of Mordechai and Esther. At the end he got what he deserved, a tree of death.

We shall not forget where to put our faith and trust because there is no other way.

[note color=”#ece7ed”]Therefore when YHVH your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that YHVH your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.[/note]